Federer wins Dubai opener in three sets

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Sports Network) - After dropping the first set
in stunning fashion, reigning champion and five-time titlist Roger Federer
roared back to win his opening-round match at the $1.785 Dubai Tennis
Championships.

The second-seeded Swiss icon lost the first set to Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri before rebounding for a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory on the hardcourts at Dubai Tennis Stadium, where former women's Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova captured a WTA title last week.

"It important to sort of react and make sure I didn't panic," said Federer.
"But, of course your mind starts to wander, especially in a match where there
is hardly any rallies. He's going for broke on every return. All you're trying
to do is get into some rallies, and you're missing a lot yourself.

"It was a difficult match for me out here tonight, but I'm happy I found a way
and got a day off now so I can work a little bit on the game. Just maybe the
pressure is off a little bit, and then automatically I will play a lot better
in the second round."

The Wimbledon champion Federer, a seven-time Dubai finalist, beat U.S. Open
champ Andy Murray in last year's marquee Dubai finale.

The first round will conclude on Tuesday, including matches for world No. 1
star Novak Djokovic, third-seeded Tomas Berdych, fourth seed Juan Martin del
Potro, and last week's Marseille titlist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who upended
Berdych in a three-set final thriller in France.

The Australian Open champion Djokovic is a three-time Dubai winner (2009-11).